Patterns and Outcomes of Federal Agency Funding for Libraries and Information Science

Trudi Bellardo Hahn

(Submission #83)

Summary

Based on an extensive literature search as well as additional information gathered from U.S. federal government agencies, including personal interviews with leaders in those agencies, this poster will address the patterns and influence of funding for research involving a range of topics broadly subsumed under the large and diverse field of library and information science (LIS). Questions to be addressed in this study:

Over time, which agencies have contributed and are currently providing the most support? The study will examine the Defense Advances Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education.

Over time, what specific initiatives have been supported, how has the emphasis on topics and issues changed, where are there gaps, and which initiatives are currently at the top of federal agenciesí research agendas? How has the mount of funding fluctuated over the years, what factors have influenced the availability of federal dollars for LIS research, and what is the prognosis for the future?

How are research agendas currently being set? What external/environmental factors are driving research priorities?

What are the recent partnership patterns among researchers and institutions for funded projects and studies?

Specifically, what has been the role of the federal government in:

o Advancing library and information services for the poor, disadvantaged, and underserved in order to achieve greater equality of access? o Promoting development of innovations in digital library projects, databases, information retrieval, bibliographic control, archives and preservation, collaboration through networks, management of libraries and information services, and other key areas of LIS? o Supporting education and training for researchers? o Exploring issues in scholarly communication and electronic information sources? o Planning and evaluating library and information services/systems?

These and other questions will be addressed with text and graphical displays showing trends and current priorities, which will invite questions and informal discussion.